Exfoliators for All Skin Types

Exfoliators for All Skin Types

What you need to know about this revitalizing beauty regimen.

-Paige Herman-Axel

Do you want to give your skin a boost, and make it look clearer and more radiant? The quick and easy fix can be found in an exfoliator that removes dead skin cells. But how often should you exfoliate? And what product should you use? We turned to aesthetician Ileana Moreno, whose clients have included Jennifer Lopez, for advice. “Exfoliation is a tricky thing,” she says. “If you don’t exfoliate, you can get a lot of dead skin buildup, but if you overdo it, you can disrupt your skin’s lipid barrier which helps retain moisture.” Speaking of hydration, don’t forget to moisturize after exfoliating to keep skin soft and supple.

The way and how often you exfoliate depends on your skin’s condition, but here’s the kicker: Your skin can change from season to season, and even month to month. So exfoliation guidelines depend more on your skin type than how old you are. Try exfoliating once a week, and depending on how your skin reacts, you can increase or decrease the frequency.

Normal Skin“Normal skin is characterized as generally clear, smooth and unblemished. Pores are small and unblocked and pH, oil and moisture are balanced,” explains Moreno. Light, manual exfoliation will help keep skin this way. The Clarisonic Mia Skin Care Brush ($149, clarisonic.com) leaves skin squeaky clean, tingly and refreshed. For a less pricey alternative, check out the Neutrogena Wave Duo ($14.99, target.com).

0 thoughts on “Exfoliators for All Skin Types”

Thanks for this article! I really like the way it’s broken down and explains the specific skin types and why certain ingredients are more beneficial for each. I use Skinplicity’s Mint and Papaya Scrub which seems to work for my sensitive/dry skin–no irritation yet! The trick for me seems to be using gentle, daily scrubs, that I instead use around 3-times a week.